Stage-firearm.



J. E. BANNER.

STAGE FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED 1.18.21, 1911.

1,007,174, Q Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

ammo 0 COLUMBIA PLANIJGRAPM 60.,WASHINGTON. n. c.

JOHN EDWARD BANNER, OF MOUNT AIRY, NORTH CAROLINA.

STAGE-FIREARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Application filed January 21, 1911. Serial No. 603,956.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. BANNER, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Mount Airy, county of Surry, State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stage- Firearms, of which the following is a full and clear specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which is represented a side elevation of a revolver of ordinary construction, parts being broken away to show my improvements.

The object of the present invention is to so construct a pistol or other cartridge-shooting fire arm that it may be used for stage purposes without the possibility of harming any of the actors or stage hands and at the same time which will permit the weapon to be aimed directly and deliberately at the actor against whom the fire is directed thus enabling a more realistic exhibition to be given than is possible with the weapons now used on the stage, since with these latter weapons the realistic effect is very greatly detracted from by reason of the necessity, out of abundance of precaution, of aiming the weapon at some point away from the person against whom it is directed, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

To accomplish the above purpose, I simply close the muzzle of the weapon and deflect the bullet passage a upwardly at a point near the muzzle and preferably just back of the sight piece I), so that the muzzle opening 0 shall be at one side of the barrel, preferably the upper side, whereby the charge, whether bullet or blank, will be discharged laterally from the barrel, while at the same time the discharge of the weapon will be of the same character as to sound and appearance as with an ordinary weapon. With this construction all danger of injuring the person against whom the fire is 'directed by powder or wadding will be elimi nated, as the charge will be directed harmlessly to one side; and even if by accident a bullet cartridge is used the bullet will be deflected out of harms way. With this deviceit will be obvious that the weapon may be used with the same realistic effect as in a real battle or assault, thus avoiding the farcical exhibitions now commonly seen on the stage and which are rendered necessary out of abundance of precaution. As a further improvement, I may so construct the cartridge-receiving end of the bore or barrel that only a special form of blank cartridge can be inserted. To carry out this idea I propose supplying a blank cartridge which is exactly the same as the blank cartridges now in general use except that it shall be slightly shorter. I propose also to provide the interior of the cartridge-receiving passage d with an annular shoulder 6 located at a distance from the entrance end of the passage shorter than the shell of the regular standard blank or bullet cartridge. This shoulder will prevent a standard cartridge from being forced home into the barrel and will in that way prevent such cartridges being used in the weapon, whereas it will permit my special cartridge to be properly fitted into the barrel. In this way I provide doubly against the insertion of a bullet cartridge.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to a revolver of well known type but it will be understood that it may be applied to other types of pistols and also to rifles.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A stage cartridge shooting implement having the muzzle end of its barrel closed and having its bullet passage or bore extending unobstructedly from the cartridge receiving end to a point near the muzzle end and there deflected out through the top of the barrel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature .in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN EDWARD BANNER.

Witnesses:

Geo. D. FAWOETT, J. R. MGKINNY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

